Electric switch.



G. W. CRAVBNS. ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APLICATION FILED NQV.27,1911. 1,6929245, Patented pr. '2, 1914,

poespas,

'UNIFIED STAI- TIS PATENT OFFICE;

GEORG-E W. CRAVENS, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIG-NOR T0il)EIIZJIA-S'I'Ali, ELECTRIC COMPANY, CHICAGO, ILLDTOIS, A CORPORATION0F ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

, clare the following to be a full, clear, and

enact description of the same, such asuvvillenable others skilled in theart to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings,

c which :term a part of this specification. i

There are two common forms of small '..electric switches, such as wallswitches,

namely those which are operated by push buttons and those provided withrotatable handlesl or finger pieces.

My invention relates particularly to thev 'former type and has for itsobject to improve the same.

In the ordinary push buttonlswitch the operating pressure or force mustbe applied in a predetermined direction, namely that in which the pushbutton reciprocates. It the pressure be at an angle to the line ofmovement of the push button, there is a component of force which tendsto bind the push button and, as the angle'increases this componentincreases so that when the force is applied at a comparatively smallangle to the direction which the push button may move, the push buttonwill fail to operate.

l Speci'cally considered, the object of my invention is to provide asubstitute for the push button which shall beso arranged that the switchmaybe operated bya jforce or pressure which is notf'limited as todirection ast-in the case of the push but-ton, but

may be applied at any angle whichwill give a component in apredetermined direction.

" This application is a division of my priorf/ 'application Serial No.574,598 led July 305/,y 4

1910,' and I shall therefore illustrate and describe the switch asapplied to the particular use claimed in the foregoing application;itpbein of course understood that my switch may' used wherever the twoforms of switches to which yIhave heretofore referred could be applied!The various features 'of novelty whereby invention is characterized willhereinmfy a ter be described inthe claims; but, for a full understandingof myinvention and of Specification of Letters Patent.

@riginal application illed July 30, 1910, Serial No. 574,598. Dividedand,

v Serial No. 662,575.

v11a-tentenApr. t', 1914.. this application lecl November my switchwhich I have illustrated makes it preferable that the switch be onewhich automaticallycloses when free to do so and is opened by theapplication of pressure. It will of course be understood, however,

that this action may bereversed. In the arrangement shown, therel is anordinary knife switch comprising an arm G which is pivotally mountedbetween its ends at g and is adapted to engage .with contact pieces H inits closed position'. y

-I is a spring which tends normally to hold the arm in engagement withthe coperating contact pieces. -For moving the switch arm against thetension of the sprin I have provided a swinging plate or shoe vwhich isof considerable area and is adapted, in one position, to-liesubstantially flush with the front face f ofthe switch case or box. Themember L is pivotally mounted on the ycas'e or box by means of journalsZ arranged at one end thereof and lying parallel with l the front faceof the case or box. The motion of the member L may be translated into amotion of the switch arm by any suitable means, preferably by means of astrut K interposed between the free end of the mem-v yberl'and one endof the switch arm.

The member K may be a simple strut because the'opening pressureontheswitch is 'in the lform of a thrust. Where the switchis 'mountedwith the pivotal axis of the-member L horizontal as illustrated, themember i L will naturally hang in the proper relation to the strut; butwhen the switch is ,disposed in any other position there might` be atendencyfor the member L to swmg outof its operative position unless itwere positively connected to the switch arm. 'In' thepre-v ferredarrangement, therefrap-the member .crate the switch.

K is preferably pivotally connected at its ends to the switch arm and tothe operating member, respectively;

It will be seen that a force applied to the outer face 'of the swingingshoe or plate in any direction from one perpendicular to the front faceof the switch box or casing to one parallel. of this face, (as long asthe latter force is directed from Athe pivoted end of the member Ltoward the free end), will cause the shoe or vplate to swing inwardlyand op- Furthermore the large area of the shoe or plate makes itunnecesthat the force be directed to one particular ,spot as in the caseof a push button,

j considerable latitude being thereforel allowed as to the point atwhich the pressure may be applied. This latter feature is an impor--tant one no matter Where the switch is employed: ii it be employed as aWall switch and is to be operated by pressure of the thumb or fingers,it is more easily operated in the dark than the ordinary push button; ifthe switch is located in a position which does notallow ready access,then again its operation is more convenient than- Where a push button isemployed; and linally, Where the switch is tobe operated by some movablemember mounted adjacent thereto, the same delicate adjustment is notrequired as in the case of a push ,button and the operating mechanism isnot so apt. to become out of repair. f

ln the preferred form the plate L is hingcdiat 'one end at a pointWithin the switelrbox and adjacent to the front face thereof so as to becapable of swinging through an opening f in said face; and. it isprovided with rearwardly eXtending vllanges t" along the edges at rightangles to the axis of the hinge in order to keep the opening coveredwhen ythe plate swings out as indicated in l. i

ot a.

sleeping car or other structure and is adapted to' be operated by amovable member B pivotallyv mounted on this'rvall; the member B beingprovided with. a cam M for engaging with the shoe or plate L. It Will beseenjthat the cam has a sliding action on the shoe so that aconsiderable portion of the angular movement of the member B- isavailable for actuating the switch, no delicate adjustment of the partsbeing required since it will always .be possible to obtain sui licicntmovement by an adjustment which is vonly reasonably close. The cam maybe made yielding or resilient, thus further re ducing the need foraccurate adjustment.

While I have .illustrated and described only a single preferred form ofmy invention, I do not desire to be limited to the particular structuraldetails thus illustrated and described; but intend to cover all formsand arrangements which fall Within the terms employed in the definitionsof my invention constituting the appended claim.

I claim:

In combination, a switch box, a switch within the box, said box having alarge openingin one side, a plate hinged at one end in said opening andforming a closure therefor, means between the opposite end of the plateand the switch for transmitting metion from the plate to the switch, andan operating member for said plate pivotally supported adjacent theretoand having a part adapted to make sliding contact with the face of saidplate. y

'In testimony whereof, l, sign this specification in the presence of twowitnesses.

GERGE W. CRAVENS. `Witnesses f WM. F. FREUDENREGH, l .RUBY V. Burners.

